Presidential guardsman named Niger leader after assassination

Posted: Monday, April 12, 1999

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) - The head of the presidential guard unit diplomats and witnesses said assassinated Niger's president has been named the new leader of this West African nation, the government announced Sunday. Daouda Malam Wanke was named president and head of the National Council for Reconciliation, which will rule Niger for a nine-month transition period, state-run radio reported. Wanke succeeds Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, who was killed Friday in a hail of gunfire by members of the security guard. Bare was buried Sunday in his home village, 185 miles east of the capital, Niamey. Military spokesman Hamidou Djibrila said the military ordered the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the Supreme Court and National Assembly, in what amounted to a complete ouster of the former regime.